US Justifies China Tariffs as Response to Fentanyl Crisis, Says White House

Washington, D.C. – The United States has imposed new tariffs on China, citing retaliation for what it describes as an unprecedented influx of fentanyl over the past four years.

Speaking at a press briefing on Tuesday, US Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt addressed multiple key issues, including the trade tariffs on China and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s visit to the US.

US Justifies Tariffs as Response to Fentanyl Distribution

When asked whether President Donald Trump plans to speak with Chinese President Xi Jinping, Leavitt said, “I don’t have any updates on when that call will take place,” but added that scheduling was underway and a call would occur “very soon.”

She further explained the rationale behind the 10% tariff on China, stating:

“The President made it very clear that he is not going to allow China to continue to source and distribute deadly fentanyl into our country. This was a retaliatory tariff on China for the last four years of their unprecedented distribution of fentanyl at our nation’s borders.”

Canada Unveils Border Plan to Combat Fentanyl Trade

On the same day, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced new measures under Canada’s Border Plan, aimed at curbing fentanyl trafficking. The plan includes:

• Deploying thousands of additional border personnel
• Launching a new precursor chemical detection unit
• Establishing a drug profiling center to enhance fentanyl tracking

Trudeau’s announcement follows US President Trump’s statement on Monday, in which he revealed that Canada is implementing a $1.3 billion border initiative to help stop fentanyl trafficking into the United States. In exchange, Trump agreed to pause tariffs on Canadian goods for 30 days upon the plan’s execution.

Netanyahu’s US Visit & Middle East Security

Leavitt also addressed Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s visit to the White House, emphasizing that his meeting with Trump demonstrates the US’s continued support for Israel.

“The fact that this is the first working visit from a foreign leader here at the White House shows that President Trump will continue to stand strongly with Israel,” she said, reiterating the US’s commitment to securing the release of hostages and backing Israel against regional threats.

Ahead of his arrival in the US, Netanyahu’s office released a statement outlining his key priorities:

• Victory over Hamas
• Securing the release of all hostages
• Countering Iran’s influence in the region

The statement emphasized that recent military actions have already “changed the face of the Middle East”, adding, “I believe that working closely with President Trump, we can redraw the map even further for the better.”

Looking Ahead

With tensions escalating over trade and geopolitical challenges, the US-China tariff dispute and Middle East developments remain key international concerns. The Biden administration’s upcoming decisions on both fronts are expected to shape the global economic and political landscape in the months ahead.

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